How do you know difference between bacterial or viral bronchitis?

Bronchitis: Viral upper respiratory tract infections usually run their course in 7to10 days. If symptoms of bronchitis (coughing up discolored sputum with or without wheezing), persist longer than that,then one can presume bacterial bronchitis and antibiotics are then often prescribed to hasten resolution.

Few things...: Symptoms for a viral bronchitis tend to be milder( although not necessarily), it resolves on its own and lasts for a shorter period of time.In patients with other risk factors like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, asthma or COPD, smokers, and the like there is a greater risk of developing a bacterial type of infection due to a weak immune system. Pts with a bacteria tend to have more complications